Happy first day of spring! 5 things to know about the spring equinox

Wednesday

Here are five things to know about this year's spring equinox, which falls on Wednesday, March 20.

The third and final supermoon of 2019 will take place on the first day of spring.

That's right, it's only March, but it's the last chance to see a supermoon this year. The next won't appear until Feb. 9, 2020.

"Equinox" roughly translates to "equal nights" in Latin.

During an equinox, the sun is at the equator which means day and night are equal lengths all over the world.

No, you can't actually only balance an egg on the equinox.

The myth that you can balance an egg on its tip on the spring equinox due to the Earth's tilt is a myth. You can balance an egg any day of the year, if you're precise enough. Sorry to disappoint.

The spring equinox isn't on the same day every year.

This year it's on March 20, but next year it'll be on March 19. It all depends on the stars -- literally. Astronomically speaking, a year isn't exactly 365 days, so you can't divide it up into four equal seasons. It's complicated, but here's an explainer from Space.com.

There are plenty of examples of ancient cultures observing the equinox.

Perhaps most notably, the Mayans built a pyramid around A.D. 1000 in mexico. Due to the sun's placement on the spring equinox, it appears that a snake slithers down the steps of the pyramid.

Read more lifestyle news from GateHouse Media:

These are the happiest cities in America
10 of the coolest libraries in America
Here’s why you should use all your vacation days this year

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.